Road-machine.



C. H. JONES.

ROAD MACHINE `APPLICATION FILED MAY1|,|9|5.

Patented Apr. 30,1918.

w @Wi uw C. H. JONES.

ROAD MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY11.19|5.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.'

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 www@ E. hm

C. H. JONES.

ROAD-MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAY1|.1915.

Patented. Apr. 30, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. H. JONES.

ROAD MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IIIAYII. 1915.

APaIentedl. Apr. 30, 19MB.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

CHARLES I-I. JONES, OF GALVA, ILLINOIS.

ROAD-MACHINE.

Application led May 11, 1915.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galva, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road- Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a road machine wherein the surface of the groundmay be properly graded and rolled or smoothed to retain the road surface so formed in its graded position.

A purpose of the invention is to cut away irregular parts of the road surface and fill up other irregularities, by so distributing the material on the road that a graded compact surface may be formed by drawing the machine over the surface.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide means whereby the machine may be easily and readily transported, such means being effected by the contracting of its scraper elements against the frame, without. the necessity of dismantling the parts.

The invention aims also, to relieve the congestion of material at the apex formed by the plurality of scraper beams, by the provision of automatically operated gates, which thereby prevent the loose earth, which is directed toward the center of the machine, from overrunning the scraper beams at that point.

A further purpose of the invention is to facilitate the movement or adjustment of the scraper beams by providing means whereby power may be taken from the roller and transmitted to the beam shafts, which control the movement or adjustment of the scraper beams.

The invention contemplates, also, the provision of means whereby the scraper beams may be so positioned with relation to the frame that t-he cut or frictional contact of the beam with the road surface, may be regulated, the vertical position or tilting of the scraper being controlled by manually operated means. Associated with the adjustment or tilting of the beams, are means on the beams whereby the road surface may be smoothed or leveled similar to the action of a roller.

It is a purpose of the invention also, to in- Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 191W.

Serial No. 27,385.

crease the life of the scraper beams by providing reversible, adjustable and replaceable cutter blades, coperating with which are extension plates pivotally mounted at the outer ends of the scraper beams, which latter plates permit of greater working area with substantially the same draft as would be required of a machine of less road capacity.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. While an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and such embodiment may now be a preferred construction,

it is to be understood that the disclosure therein made is for the purpose of illustration, and not as defining the limits of the invention. rIhe right is reserved, therefore, to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of one side of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rear of the machine, some parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the scraper beam disclosing a transverse interior draft beam, and more particularly one of the interior beam gates.

Fig. 4L is a perspective view illustrating an extension plate mounted upon the outer end of the beam, the draft beam being omitted to more clearly illustrate the extension plate.

Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation of the coupling plate mounted for swivel movement upon a beam, the outer draft beam being shown in section.

l Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of

a plurality of friction elements yfor transmission of power from a power shaft to a beam shaft.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a scraper beam showing a wear plate, a cutter blade, and the draft beam.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the power shaft associated with an auxiliary and main beam shafts.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section, of the lever which actuates the auxiliary beam shaft., together with the means to connect said lever with the shaft.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view disclosing the tie rod for pull beams loosely mounted in a bearing.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, there is provided a 'frame of any suitable material, having longitudinal beams, shown as I-beams 1. The frame may be suitably supported at the front upon a 'truck 2 of any preferred type, with which is connected a suitable draft device such as a tongue 3, which may serve as means of connecting the truck 2 to any suitable draft appliance such as a tractor, or a team of animals. At the rear of the 'frame there is shown a roller` 4 mounted upon suitable brackets 5, said roller being provided With a shaft 6 journaled in the brackets 5. Mounted on these brackets may be provided suitable scraper elements 7 to free the surface of the roller from material which may be carried thereon after contact with the loose road surface. Mounted under the frame 1 and in advance of the roller 4, are a=plurality of scraper beams 8, which are ,adapted to extend on opposite sides of the frame, and to be angularly positioned with relation 'to the frame, especially when in operative position.

The outer ends of the beams 8 are provided vvith draft beams 10 with which are associated a flexible connection 11 to a winding drum 12, mounted upon a main beam shaft 13 journaled upon a supporting framework 14 of t-he main frame 1. At one end of this shaft there is provided means, such as a hand operated Wheel 15, whereby the shaft may be rotated to move the beam 8 toward or away from'the body of the frame, to adjust the angular position of the beam. A suitable pawl and ratchet device, shown at 16, may 'be' employed to retain the beam in 'its adjusted angular osition. The draft beam 10 may be provilded with a pivoted link 17 for a pulley 18, which permits the flexible connection 11 to extend from the drum 12, through the pulley 18 to a plate 19, shownon the tongue 3, where it may be connected by a hook 20, when the beams 8 are in their operative position.

Each of the Scrapers is shown provided also, with a transverse orl inner pull beam 21 which'may have a flexible connection, indicated at 22, with the truck 2. This cennection 22 from each beam 21, is shown ex tending to an opposite side of the truck so that when the machine is directed around in an arcuate path, the pivotal movement of the truck will cause corresponding movement'of the beams to effect a proper turning movement of the machine.

A suitablepower shaft 24 is shown extending transversely across the frame 1, and power is transmitted from roller shaft 6 to power shaft 24 by any suitable means, such for example as a sprocket chain 25, the sprocket on shaft 6 being shown of greater diameter than the sprocket on shaft 24. rlhis power shaft is shown provided with a friction element 26, shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and S as a beveled or truncated bearing wheel, which may be made up of any suitable material. In Fig. G, the friction elements are shown as comprising plates 2G, 26", securing laminated fiber between them by means of bolts. This friction wheel 26 is adapted to register with a friction wheel 27 to impart motion to an auxiliary beam shaft 28, which shaft 28 may be placed parallel with the main beam shaft 13 which carries the drum 12. The shaft 2S is shown positioned below shaft 13, and connected with said shaft 13 by a sprocket chain 29 to transmit power from said auxiliary shaft to the main shaft. A separate auxiliary sha ft is preferably employed for each of the main shafts. Mounted adjacent to the platform 30 is a bracket 31 (Figs. 8 and 9% to which is fulcrumed a lever 32 having a ink 33 which engages a strip 33a mounted in u groove of the collar 34 to permit of the rotation of said collar 34 with the shaft 28. If desired, the shaft 28 may be retained in a position so that its friction element 27 is out of engagement with the power shaft friction element 26, and this ma),7 be effected by providing a resilient member 35 between the journal box 36 of said shaft and a collar 37 secured to the shaft. By this arrangement, an operator can direct the movements of the scraper beams 8 from the platform 30 by the manipulation of the levers 32, thereby bringing the auxiliary shafts 28 into contact with the friction element of the power shaft 24, for simultaneous movement of the plurality of scraper beams. On the other hand, each scraper beam may be manually adjust-ed by means of the hand wheel 15, when so desired.

One of the important features of this in vent-ion resides in the means to tilt the scraper beams from their ordinary vertical working position to an inclined position, for the purpose of making said beams, not only cutter beams but smoothing beams. In this connection attention is more particularly directed to Figs. 2, 5 and 7 of the drawings.

The transverse inner draft beam 21 of each of the scraper beams 8, may be connected by a rod 38 slidably mounted in bearings 381. A plurality of springs 38" are shovrn interposed between the cotter pin 38 and the bearings 38a. Associated with this beam is a liexible connection such as a chain 39, of Fig. 2, which is adapted to be wound upon a drum 40 actuated by the hand wheel 41, whereby the scraper beams may be tilted to the required angle for the road surface. Adjacent to this transverse beam 21 may be provided a suitable standard 42, shown as 21, while its other arm 44 is -angularly positioned to extend to one end of said beam 21.`

From this end of beam 21 there is provided a bracket 45 which connects said end to the scraper beam 8.

A suitable hand wheel 46 is mounted upon a shaft on the frame, and provided with a drum 47 for suitable means, such as a chain 48 to connect this wheel shaft with the upper end of the standard 42, whereby the movement of the wheel and its action upon said standard 42 will serve to deflect the scraper beam 8 from its vertical position to aniinclined position. The chain may be guided in its movements by a pulley 48,

At the outer end of the scraper beam 8, the draft beam 10 is shown provided with a curved inner end 49 (Fig. 7) terminating at a staple 50, where it is pivotally secured to the scraper beam 8. This draft beam 10 is slidably mounted between rollers 51 jour- 'naled in the housing 52 (shown more clearly in Fig. 5), which housing is swiveled by means of its plate 53 and bolt 54 to a web of the scraper beam 8. The forward end of the draft beam 1Gk is shown directed downw-ardly as at 55, to which end is connected the link 17 and flexible connection 11. Fulcrumed upon the draft rod 10, preferably at the curved end 49 thereof, is a lever 56 which is associated with a sector 57 secured to said portion 49. This lever 56 is connected with the upper portion of the scraper beam 8 in any suitable manner, but in Fig. 7 it is shown connected by a chain 58 which engages the housing 52. This lever 56 cooperates with the wheel 46 in tilting the beam 8.

To more elfectually smooth the road sur face when the beam is tilted, there is provided a wear plate 59 secured to the bottom web of the scraper beam, which wear plate extends beyond the web of the beam 8 and terminates in an upwardly curved portion 60. This curved portion servesasy means to engage the loose granular road surface and to smooth the same out similar to the action of a roller as the beam passes over the surface. Moreover, this wear plate 59 is easily replaceable and thereby reduces the expense in maintaining the machine in operation, by preventing wear upon the scraper beams 8 per se by the road surface. The scraper beam is provided with an aperture 61 through4 which may be inserted means to secure any suitable device, such as a caster wheel 62, to elevate the beam entirely from the road surface when transporting the machine over a surface which is not to be acted upon by the Scrapers.

This beam has been termed a floating beam it being possible through the manipulation of the hand wheel 46` to tilt the beams rearwardly and allowv the cutter blades 63 to cut more or less as desired.` It should be noted, however, that in this construction the draft always remainsthe same, which is very desirable.

The cutter blades 63 are adjustably mount ed through bolts 64 passing through slots 65 to the scraper beams 8, and these cutter blades 63 are preferably sharpened at each of their edges 66 so that they may be re` versed upon the scraper beams, as well as vertically adjusted thereon, such cutter blades being shown arcuate in cross section, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. The cuter end of the smoothing plate of beam 8, and also the cutter blade 63 may be cut diagonally to facilitate the cutting of ditches and sod at the side of the road.

It is proposed to employ an extension` to the cutting blades 63, as shown in Fig. 4, such extension being in the form of a plate 67, which in practice, may be of any desired length, such for example as tive feet. This plate 67 is designed to overlap the cutter blade 63, as shown at 68 in Fig. 4. Tt is maintained in position by a suitable bracket, the adjustable arms of which are indicated at 69. These arms 69 are mounted atf70 to the scraper beam 8, and are provided with means whereby the plate 67 may be positioned at various angles with relation to the scraper beam 8. @ne form of this angular adjustment is shown as an arcuate slot 71, with which any suitable fastening means may coperate to secure the plates 70 and the arms 69 in the desired position. These arms 69 may be in the forni of angle irons, as shown, and coperating therewith are a plurality of arms 72, also shown as angle irons, which arms 72 are preferably pivotally connected tothe arms 69 by a pivot pin 73, which is removably mounted on the bracket. To retain the plate in its extended position, the arms 72 may be provided with perforations with which are engaged the hooks 74 serving as cross arms, which hooks are :pivotally mounted on the arms 69. This bracket is formed by parts 69, 72, and 74, and serves as a rigid support vfor the plate 67, and this plate may be positioned at various angles with relation to the scraper beam S sothat ditches'may be formed on the sides of `the roads by the plates 67 or a wider road bed formed thereby, as may be desired. These plates 67 may be removed entirely from the scraper beams by withdrawal of the pin 7 3, or may be swung back of said scraper beam by releasing the hooks 74 from `the position shown in Fig. 4, and swinging the arms 72 around upon their fulerum at 7 3 to bring the plate 67 to the rear of the beam 8, where the plate may be locked in position, if desired. It is obvious that the slot 71 may be formed in the plate 70 instead of yof greatv depth. 'this congestionhas been the provision here- "in the beam, as may be desired. The swinging back of fthe extension plates 67 will be foundof advantage when turning Aon a road ltoe narrow to permitv of `the turning movement vof the machine without the blades 'comingin Acontact with the traction engine ory other motive power. These features 'eliminate 'the necessity of employing a long 'ton-gue' -in lieu of the short tongue 3, the

shorter tongue being preferable for the reason that the shorter the hitch, the lighter fthe draft', and the line thereof vis better maintained.

ln machines of this character, where the surplus earth is directed toward the center of the machine and between a plurality of scraperV beams to be acted upon by a roller, it has been found that the surplus material will accumulate so Vrapidly at the central yopening as to cause congestion of the material, so that this surplus material will overflow the scrapers unless they are made One means of overcoming tofore stated, of tilting the scraper beams so that they permit of the passage of some of the loose' material under the beam to be smoothed out by upturned portion 60, thereby relieving some o-f the work ordinarily placed upon the roller. The cutter blades 63 then operate more or less upon the surface, as desired, such action being under the control of the operator on the platform 30. To still further relieve this congestion however, it =is proposed to employ a plurality of gates 75, extending from the inner ends of the scraper beams 8. rlfhese gates 75 are shown as plates which are mounted slightly to the rear of the cutter blades 63, and are designed to dispose of accumulation of loose earth and prevent the material from overrunning the beams at a point which is not on the yline of the direction taken by the roller. The' gates are designed to automatically'open when the'material exerts lsufficient pressure against them to overcome the compression of va resilient element and thereby permit surplus material to pass between the'gates to the roller.

Referring more particularlyv to Fig. 3 of the drawings,`the gate is shown provided l lwith a plurality of hinges 76, each having an This rod 81 extends from the gate between-the-'plateSS and a collar 84 on thev rod 81, is shown a coil spring 85, which acts to maintain the gate 75 in its closed position in alinement with the cutter blade 63. The tension may be increased or diminished on the spring by the adjustment of the collar Srl on the rod 8l. The gates 75 are vertically adjustable with relation to the scraper beams 8, by -means of their hinged portions 78 being slidably mounted upon the arbors 79, and they are maintained in their vertical adjustment by any suitable means, such for example, as by the screws 86. It is sometimes advantageous to raise the gate 75 from the surface of the road to allow sufficient loose material to pass under the gate, and in this manner to be spread out to a uniform height in order that the roller may more evenly engage the loose earth and give the road a flat or horizontal crown for the width of the roller. On the other hand, the gates 7 5 may be permitted to substantially contact with the surface of the road.

In operation, pressure of the material, or loose earth, against the gates 75 will tend to overcome the compression of the spring 85 and force the gates open sufficiently to allow the surplus earth to pass through the opening of the gates by the pressure of the material and will tend to spread the same from the center of the line of the roller to a point just insideof the two extremities of the roller, and in this manner the material will be distributed by the rakes 87 (Fig. l) across the road surface, and in alinement with the roller making it possible for the roller to act upon the loose earth in a manner to leave no ridges or like places.

ln transporting the machine, the scraper beams 8 may be folded against the frame l and elevated out of contact with the road surface through its means of suspension, such as the wheel al and chain 39 at the inner end of the beam 8, the caster wheel 62 near the central portion ofthe beam, and the liexible connection 11 wound tightly upon the drum l2 with its hook 2O engaging a part of the frame l. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a road machine having a plurality of scraper beams angularly disposed on opposite sides of the frame to leave a space between the inner ends of said beams, and pivotally mounted gates to partially close the opening therebetween of a roller rotatably mounted in the rear of said scraper beams to compress loose soil passing between the pivoted gates of said beams.

2. In a road machine, a frame, a plurality of scraper beams carried thereby, said beams being angularly disposed on opposite sides of the frame to leave a space between'the inner ends of said beams, extension plates Lacasse associated therewith, and means to yieldably mount the plates for pivotal movement upon the inner ends of the beams to permit excess material accumulated between the beams to move the plates on their pivots, and to permitthe excess material to pass between the inner ends of the beams.

3. In road machine, a frame, a plurality of scraper beams pivotally mounted on. the frame to angularly dispose the beams on opposite sides of the frame, a beam shaft for each beam, iiexible connection between each beam shaft and a beam, and means to simultaneously rotate said beam shafts.

4. In al road machine, a frame, a roller having a shaft, a power shaft on the frame having friction wheels thereon, means to connect said roller shaft with said power shaft, and a plurality of auxiliary beam shafts each having a friction wheel adapted to engage a friction wheel of the power shaft, whereby power may be transmitted from the roller shaft to a plurality of said' auxiliary beam shafts.

5. In a road machine, a frame having rotatable surface contacting means, a scraper beam pivotally mounted on the frame, a main beam shaft, means to connect said beam shaft with the scraper beam, an auxiliary beam shaft, means to connect the auxiliary beam shaft with the main beam shaft, and means to connect said auxiliary shaft with the surface contacting means to rotate said auxiliary shaft and therefrom the main beam shaft.

6. In a road machine, a scraper beam having an outer draft beam pivotally se cured near one end thereof, a housing, a portion of said draft beam being slidably mounted through said housing, and a lever engaging said draft beam having means of connection with said housing for changing the working position of the scraper beam.

7. In a road machine, a frame, a scraper beam pivotally mounted with relation to the frame, means to maintain said scraper beam at various angular positions on the frame, a standard secured to said scraper beam near one end thereof, a drum on the frame, means connecting said drum with said standard for regulating the working angle of said scraper beam, and an outer draft beam mounted near the other end of said scraper beam and provided with a lever coperating with means to engage the scraper beam, to be employed when said scraper beam is to be tilted to its various working positions.

8. In a road machine, a scraper beam having a housing mounted for rotatable movement thereon, anti-friction devices provided in said housing, and a draft beam loosely connected to said scraper beam and adapted to have free movement through said housing and between said anti-friction devices.

9. In a road machine, a scraper beam, a

wear plate positioned on the base thereof and provided with an inclined rear portion, an adjustable cutter blade mounted on said scraper beam, and means to tilt said scraper beam with relation to the surface to be treated, whereby when said scraper beam is moved to a tilted position, said cutter blade may be adjusted with relation to the surface to be treated, and said inclined rear portion may be utilized to smooth the surface acted upon by said cutter blade.

10. In a road machine, a scraper beam, a blade mounted thereon, and an extension l plate mounted on the scraper beam in co-` operative relation with said blade, said extension plate being pivotally mounted to permit the same to be folded in rear ofthe beam to thereby position the plate out of Contact with the road surface to be treated.

1l. In a road machine, a scraper beam, a blade, a bracket adjustably mounted near one end thereof, an extension plate carried by said bracket, and means to retain said plate as a continuation of said blade, said means being removably mounted whereby said blade may be moved to a non-operative position.

12. In a road machine, a frame, a plurality of scraper beams positioned on the frame to leave a space between them, and a gate adapted to be positioned at the space to engage the road surface between said scraper beams, said gate having yieldable means to maintain the same across said space.

13. In a road machine, a frame, a plurality of scraper beams positioned with relation to the frame to leave a space between them at'the inner ends thereof, each of said scraper beams being provided with a pivotally mounted gate, and resilient means to maintain said gate in its closed position to partially close the space between the beams,

thereby permitting the gates to be opened by pressure of material against the action of said resilient means.

14. In a road machine, a scraper beam having a gate pivotally mounted near one end thereof, said gate designed to engage the road surface beyond the beam and resilient means to maintain said gate in its closed position.

15. In a road machine, a scraper beam, an arbor secured to said scraper beam near one end thereof, a gate, means to adjustably mount said gate on said arbor, and resilient' means connected with said gate to maintain it in its closed position.

16. In a road machine, a scraper beam, an arbor rotatably mounted thereon, a gate secured to said arbor, means to maintain said gate at various positions with relation to the surface to be operated upon, a rod pivotally mounted on said gate, and resilient means engaging said rod to maintain said gate in its closed position.

17. In a road machine, a, scraper beam, an arbor' rotatablynmounted thereon, a gate secured to said arbor, a rod pivotally mounted ofi said gate at one end thereof, a bracket to slidably support the other end of said rod, a resilient member carried by said rod to maintain said gate in its closed position, and adjustable means to regulate the tension of said. resilient member to determine the automatic actionof said gate.

18. In a road machine, a scraper beam having a Wear plate on the base thereof and a cutter' blade secured thereto, said wear plate and cutter blade being each provided with a diagonally formed outer end.

19. In a road machine, a plurality of scraper beams, a pull beam mounted on each scraper beam, and resilient connection between said pull beams.

20. In a road machine, a plurality of scraper beams, a pull beam transversely mounted near the inner ends of each scraper beam, a rod slidably connected to said pull beams, and resilient means interposed between said pull beams.

In vtestimony whereof, I aiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. JONES.

Witnesses:

OSCAR M. PETERSON, HERBERT E. WAGNER.

pies f this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

